March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, which celebrates transgender identities while also drawing attention to the discrimination transgender people face. Here are just a few recent books that address gender diversity or feature transgender characters. (Please note: This post was originally published in 2024 and has been revised to include new titles suggested by Wilmette Public Library staff.)
Media coverage tends to sensationalize the fight over how trans kids should be allowed to live, but what is incredibly rare are the voices of the people at the heart of this debate: transgender and gender nonconforming kids themselves. For their groundbreaking new book, journalist Nico Lang spent a year traveling the country to document the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teens and their families. Drawing on hundreds of hours of on-the-ground interviews with them and the people in their communities, American Teenager paints a vivid portrait of what it's actually like to grow up trans today.
A World Worth Saving, by Kyle Lukoff
After coming out as trans, fourteen-year-old A is forced to attend weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings, where he uncovers the terrifying truth that the group is run by a demon feeding on their pain and is part of a larger, darker force preying on the world's vulnerable.
True You: A Gender Journey, by Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner
Using simple, straightforward text and beautiful photography, True You is a concrete introduction to gender as a separate concept from biological sex. It also helps readers understand why it’s so important to respect other people’s gender. The photos feature joyful children of many ethnicities and genders, with one thing in common: they love who they are! Suggested for preschool and up. Backmatter offers grownups more detailed information and resources.
Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They!: What are YOUR Pronouns Today? by Lindz Amer and Kip Alizadeh
What does it feel like when people use the right pronouns for you? Does it feel like a warm sweater, or make you want to throw a dance party? This colorful picture book, appropriate for preschool and up, gives examples of gender pronouns while also communicating the gender euphoria that occurs when a person’s correct pronouns are used.
Sylvia Rivera, by Claudia Romo Edelman and J. Gia Loving
Most of us can name major figures in the women’s suffrage and Civil Rights movements, but how many leaders of the LGBTQ+ rights movement can you name? Sylvia Rivera, a transgender Latina woman, began her activism as a teenager on the New York City streets. Her youthful change-making makes her an especially inspiring figure to young readers. This slim chapter book biography will be accessible to older elementary students and up.
Just Shy of Ordinary, by A. J. Sass
In this middle grade novel, thirteen-year-old Shai has a lot on their plate. Not only are they making the transition from homeschool to public school, they’re exploring their Jewish heritage at a time when being a Jew is not always safe. Meanwhile, Shai is worried how their new school friends will react to their nonbinary identity. Fortunately, Shai finds their way with the help of supportive family and friends. Suggested for middle and junior high students.
For more children’s books about gender identity, visit J306.76 in our Youth Nonfiction section. For fiction picture books, ask us for a copy of our Gender Expression and Gender Identity list. Older readers can find a selection of LGBTQ+ novels on our Rainbow Books list.